'Missing' Migrant Worker With COVID Symptoms Found Outside Hospital, Reportedly Denied Entry
A young man was found on the side of a highway. People called an ambulance to rush him to a hospital since he exhibited Covid-19 symptoms but the hospital staff denied him admission.
Update: With Sugrim Mahato's story becoming viral all over social media, Kalwa hospital authorities arranged for a spot for him at Thane Civil Hospital. Presently, he is admitted there. Having lost his parents years ago, his uncle in the village has been informed of his current status. He has a sister who resides in Navi Mumbai and she has also been made aware of his whereabouts.
During a time of crisis, it becomes our responsibility to help someone who needs support. However, unkind people exist everywhere and their foul actions end up hurting others.
For example, this young man was apparently duped by a truck driver who claimed that he will drop him to his village in Bihar. The man named Sugrim Mahto was discovered on the Eastern Express Highway in Mumbai.
Today on Eastern Express Highway, we came across this young boy who was a bit delirious and unable to walk properly. His name is Sugrim Mahto and he mentioned that he was duped by a truck driver who was to drop him to his village in Bihar. pic.twitter.com/4ikqysjed6
¡ª Ritesh Uttamchandani (@photowallah) May 15, 2020
Uttamchandani took to Twitter to share the 24-year-old's ordeal of being scammed by a truck driver and then eventually being dumped on the highway for showing symptoms for COVID-19.
In a series of tweets, Uttamchandani explained how his friend, Dipesh Tank, founder of Youth For People tried to source medicines for Sugrim but in vain as all the nearby chemist shops were closed.
Our friend @dipeshtank first tried sourcing some medicines but all shops nearby were shut. He finally called the Thane Municipal helpline and within 15 min an ambulance came & took him to Kalwa hospital. pic.twitter.com/1Zcqkylh8p
¡ª Ritesh Uttamchandani (@photowallah) May 15, 2020
Left with no option, Dipesh called the Thane Municipal helpline and an ambulance reached the spot to take Sugrim to Kalwa Hospital.
Sugrim briefly mentioned that he was left on the highway by some people, probably because of Corona symptoms (not sure about the exact story). The one thing he mentioned that will haunt anyone for life - I came here to earn money. Didn¡¯t earn a rupee instead.
¡ª Ritesh Uttamchandani (@photowallah) May 15, 2020
He even shared Sugrim's address on the thread so that someone can manage to reach out to his parents in Bihar to inform them of his condition.
Name: Sugrim Mahto
¡ª Ritesh Uttamchandani (@photowallah) May 15, 2020
Age: 24
Address: S/O Sri Ram Mahto, Gram post Rewari, Rewari Saran, Bihar. 841213. (This address is verified as per his Adhaar card)
Uttamchandani then urged people in Thane/Mumbai to keep a track of Sugrim's treatment at the hospital to make sure that the authorities don't throw him out.
No update yet. Many people are still looking him, at hospital and on roads. Either the ambulance driver is lying or the hospital has turned away a desperate lonely young man. One on hand Govt threatens doctors with cancellation of licenses and on the other, a patient goes missing
¡ª Ritesh Uttamchandani (@photowallah) May 18, 2020
However, his worst nightmare came true when he discovered that Sugrim was turned away from Shivaji hospital in Kalwa due to the fact that no one was accompanying him to fill out his formalities and paperwork. Based on his Uttamchandani's tweet, Sugrim's health has been deteriorating outside the hospital.
As we had feared, Sugrim was shamelessly denied admission by the staff at Shivaji Hospital in Kalwa for he didn¡¯t have anyone along with him to fulfil his admission formalities/paperwork. He has been languishing outside the hospital @yadavtejashwi @DrSEShinde @rohini_sgh pic.twitter.com/ddU55Ocm1F
¡ª Ritesh Uttamchandani (@photowallah) May 18, 2020
No new information on the matter has emerged.
It is extremely unfortunate and heartbreaking to know that authorities and systems whose sole purpose is to take care of the unwell are turning people away. Do the poor have no right to a healthy life? Is this the way the underprivileged will be discarded off just because they are alone? Appropriate action should be taken against those who denied admission to this young man as there is no difference between the life of a poor or a rich man.
